Trainees Slated for Fort Carson Slashed by One-Third

15,100 Due Here In Six Months; Basic Commences

Fort Carson’s expected input of replacement trainees for the first six months of 1955 has been cut by about one-third, an announcement from Fifth Army Headquarters in Chicago disclosed Wednesday.

Under an additional mission of Carson’s 8th Infantry “Golden Arrow” Division, an estimated 22,700 trainees were expected to come to Carson from January through June to undergo the training.

Revised Plan

Revised plans call for a new figure of 15,100 — a cut of 7,600. Reason for the reduction is the recently ordered trimming of selective service calls across the nation.

Beginning Thursday at Carson was the first of many eight-week basic combat training cycles. Kicking off the massive training program as about 500 recruits — newly-inducted soldiers who arrived since last Thursday from reception centers at Fort Bliss, Tex., and Fort Ord, Calif. They have been assigned to Companies A, B, and D of the 28th Inf. Regt.

Maj. Gen. Van Houten launched their first day of training Thursday with an address at 7 a.m. in the Kit Carson theater. He explained supply economy and matters concerning personal affairs, and warned the trainees that they faced hard work and long hours.

He told the men they are members of the world’s finest fighting team, the U.S. Army which won our freedom and has successfully defended it ever since.

Rigorous Course

The men, whose hometowns are located in a dozen states, will take an intensive, rigorous course of instruction keyed to the role of the infantryman in combat.

Other cycles — each eight weeks long and covering basic combat, advanced infantry and advanced artillery training — will begin on succeeding Thursdays throughout 1955.

In March, eight-week cycles in advanced individual infantry training will begin. And in May, advanced individual artillery training will be started, with each cycle also lasting eight weeks.

Basics Affected

Of the three phases, basic combat training will be affected most by the cut. About 5,800 less newly inducted soldiers will take the training at Carson from January through June than were expected. Advanced infantry will be cut by 1,000 and advanced artillery by 800.

No word has been received at the Rocky Mountain post regarding the estimated input for the last six months of 1955. Original plans called for an influx almost equal to that for the first six months — or 22,700. It is assumed, however, that a reduction will result in view of the heavy draft slash.